How is anthropology different from other social science disciplines like sociology?
Social scientists deal with a wide range of issues like social, economic, political and cultural dimensions of society. Anthropology integrates both biological and social aspects of the study on human beings. Here lies the strength of the subject. This integrative and holistic approach to study human beings and their relationships in society give it a distinct flavour. Cultural anthropologists also study traditional knowledge systems such as tribal healing practices, simple local solutions for day-to-day living, and so on. While anthropologists would not romanticise these time-tested traditional knowledge systems, they do point out the importance of such knowledge for sustainable development. What are the upcoming areas in this field? The study of human genome has great potential. Based on human genome studies, population movement can be traced back to antiquity on a firmer ground. The study of human genome also enables us to understand disease patterns, which vary from community to co
